15.10.99 : EEB Workshop on the Water Framework
Directive in Brussels on the 2nd. and 3rd. of December 1999

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

At present the EEB is organizing a workshop on the Water
Framework Directive (WFD). As you might know, the negotiations on this
crucial piece of legislation are reaching their final stage, as the Second
Reading of the European Parliament will start at the end of this month.
Since the entering into force of the Amsterdam Treaty, the timeframe for
second reading has strictly been set at 4 months. This means that all-important
decisions will be made between November 1999 and February 2000.

In general one might say that we have 4 months to support
the European Parliament in its struggle with the Council on the Water Framework
Directive.

Given this situation, were we find the European Parliament
very close to the position of the EEB (and other European NGOs), the focus
of the workshop will be on the improvement of the WFD and the things we
as NGOs can do to realize such an improvement. So there will be a strong
focus on how every individual member organization of the EEB can help to
realize such an improvement. Since European Chemical and Water Polities
overlap in many ways, there will also be a joint session with the chemical
experts of the EEB network, to discuss the connection between the 2 issues.
To make this possible we have to link these 2 networks together.

Therefore the Workshop will be held in Brussels on the
2nd. and 3rd. of December 1999. Please write these dates in your agenda
immediately.

An official invitation, background papers, registration
forms and the agenda will be sent out within a couple of weeks. But before
that, we would like to ask your organization a favor; In order to reach
all persons and NGOs which are interested in European water policies, we
would like to verify and complete our address lists. Therefore, we would
like to ask you whom in your organization is responsible for EU water policies
in general and the Water Framework Directive in particular.

Could you help us out and send the names of these persons,
their E-mail, phone number and postal address so that we can reach all
people who are working on this. Also we would like to know if there are
other NGOs in your country that are working on water. If your organization
has a list with all corresponding NGOs, we would be very happy if you could
send this to our Brussels office trough Email [eu.policy@eeb.org] or regular
post? We hope to see you all in Brussels on the 2nd and 3rd
of December in Brussels.

Below are two items on Namibia's Epupa Dam. The first
is a story thatappeared in Southern Africa on a sign-on letter (sent
previously) about theproject; the second is a response from the European Investment
Bank, arecipient of this letter, stating it will not support
the project.

Christof MaletskyWINDHOEK - More than 50 environmental pressure groups
and individuals haveteamed up to campaign against the the controversial Epupa
hydropower schemeon the Kunene River in northern Namibia.

The groups have written to several potential funders of
the dam, includingthe African Development Bank, urging them not to get
involved in a high-riskproject.

Among the campaigners are Himba leaders Chief Hikuminue
Kapika andMuatjindika Mutambo from the Epupa Action Committee,
and a host ofinternational organisations and foreign individuals.

They argue that the Epupa scheme involves considerable
risks - many of whichwould affect the project's bottom line.

"At R2,5bn, the cost of the project is equivalent to one-fifth
of Namibia's1996 gross domestic product. Undertaking this project
would increase thegovernment's annual expenditure on capital investment
by more than fourtimes," the protesters wrote in a letter to all possible
funders.

The campaigners said that because of the risks inherent
in largehydroelectric projects, Epupa has a high probability
of low economicreturns. In addition there was the probability of cost
overruns."Namibia has better, cheaper sources of power. SA exports
power to Namibiat less than half the estimated cost of Epupa electricity.
The proposed Kudugas project will likely produce twice as much electricity
as Epupa at alower cost.

"Secondly, the feasibility study's calculations do not
account for anyamount of efficiency per user of power over time." Finally, the tragic fact of AIDS in southern Africa
is likely to lowerdemand for electricity."

They said the project assumed population growth in Namibia
despite the factthat AIDS was expected to slow such growth.

A 1998 United Nations AIDS/ World Health Organisation
report estimates theHIV infection rate at 19,98%, a rate which will substantially
reducepopulation growth and have a severe effect on the economically
activesection of the population. Other UN reports in 1998 estimated
that Namibia'spopulation would grow at only 2,4% a year between 1995
and 2000 and decreasefurther after that.

Another major risk for the Epupa project is drought, which
is plaguing theupstream Ruacana Dam. Ruacana is operating at 13% of
its capacity due tofalling water levels in the Kunene River.

"Since Epupa's economic viability depends on the reliability
andpredictability of the Kunene River, several decades of
stream-flow recordsare needed to make reliable predictions about its long-term
profitability."The campaigners claim that the project will also have
serious implicationsfor the Himba pastoralists who live in the area where
the dam would be builtand are overwhelmingly opposed to the dam.

"The dam will change their way of life forever, and yet
the officialfeasibility study does not have a proper social impact
assessment."Even without a proper assessment, however, there is
ample evidence that thesocial effect of this project will be great.

"As pastoral herders, the Himba community need extensive
lands in order toraise their cattle, and there is already a shortage of
suitable land withoutlarge-scale inundation by a dam," the protesters said
in the letter.To take land away from the Epupa community would put
serious pressure on theHimba livelihoods.

The group said the reservoir would also flood Himba graves,
which are focalpoints for important religious and cultural rituals.

They also argued that the flooding would bring an end
to gardening in thefertile soils along the riverbank and would destroy the
riverine forests onhe riverbanks, a natural resource that is essential to
the Himba economy."The loss of all these resources are likely to lead to
the Epupa communitybeing increasingly dependent on the government for financial
support andsocial welfare."

Flooding the Kunene basin at Epupa would result in the
loss of an annualcrop of hundreds of tons of the palm nuts which are a
crucial food resourcefor the community.

-------------------------

Luxembourg, 22 September1999

International Rivers Network/Attn: Mrs. Lori Pottinger

Subject: Namibia: Epupa Hydropower

Dear Mrs. Pottinger,

We refer to your letter dated 24 August 1999 addressed
to a number of EIBboard members.

In reply we would like to inform you that the article
dated 8 December 1998in "The Namibian" newspaper contains certain references
to EIB which aremisleading and erroneous.

We can confirm that EIB is not considering the possible
financing of theEpupa Hydropower Project. Like the other funding agencies
mentioned in thearticle, EIB is financing (by means of a EUR 55m loan
to Nampower) the400kV Interconnector between Namibia and South Africa,
which is the leastcost solution for providing additional power to Namibia
at the presenttime. With its substantial capacity the new Interconnector
should amplycover Namibia's energy needs for the next few years.

(ENS) - The first estimate ofextinction rates of North America's freshwater animals,
just released, hasfound they are the most endangered species group on the
continent. TheCanadian study warns that the U.S. could lose most of
its freshwaterspecies in the next century if steps are not taken to
protect them.

"A silent mass extinction is occurring in our lakes and
rivers," saysauthor Anthony Ricciardi of Dalhousie University in Halifax.
Ricciardi'sstudy with coauthor Joseph Rasmussen of McGill University
in Montreal ispublished in the October issue of "Conservation Biology."

Relatively little media attention has been given to freshwater
species, theauthors say, but these animals are in at least as much
danger as landspecies. Since 1900, at least 123 freshwater animal species
have beenrecorded as extinct in North America.

Common freshwater species, from snails to fish to amphibians,
are dying outfive times faster than land species, and three times
faster than coastalmarine mammals, the researchers found. Their estimate
of the loss offreshwater biodiversity "is probably conservative," the
researchers say,"because there have likely been extinctions of species
that we did not knowexisted, as suggested by the fact that several extinct
fishes are knownfrom only a few specimens."

Freshwater animals are dying out as fast as rainforest
species, consideredby many to be the most imperiled on Earth. The authors
predict that aboutfour percent of freshwater species will be lost each
decade if nothing isdone to conserve them.

Worldwide the situation is even more perilous for these
creatures. TheWorld Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said in September that
51 percent offreshwater species, from fish and frogs to river dolphins,
are declining innumbers. The 1999 Living Planet Report, an annual index
on the state of theworld's natural wealth, presents the most reliable data
available on forestarea and populations of marine and freshwater species
worldwide. It alsoexamines consumption of critical resources in 151 countries
and itsconsequences.

"This report is a graphic call to reduce these negative
trends as the worldenters the 21st century," said Claude Martin, director
general of WWF. "Theobserved declines in populations of freshwater species
is particularlyalarming as they indicate the extent of deterioration
in the quality of theworld's rivers, lakes and other wetlands."

Freshwater amphibians are hard hit. The disappearance
of the golden toadand other amphibians in Costa Rica has been attributed
to climatic changes.Many losses have been recorded in national parks and
nature reserves,indicating pervasive threats even in protected areas.
In Australia, Panamaand the US, about 20 frog species have been decimated
by a previouslyunknown fungus. Deformities are also widespread, caused
by pollutants suchas pesticides and other factors.

The report, produced by WWF in collaboration with the
New EconomicFoundation and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre
(IUCN), found thatthe total of marine and inland fish caught reached a
record level of 95million tonnes in 1996, up 11 million tonnes from the
annual average in thepreceding five years.

To get a picture of how rapidly species extinction is
accelerating, theCanadian researchers compared current extinction rates
with those from thefossil record. They calculate that the background rate
of extinction forfreshwater fish species is about one species every three
million years.

The modern extinction rate in North America, the study
says, is about oneextinction every 2600 years - about 1,000 times higher
than the backgroundrate.

Ricciardi and Rasmussen predict that many species considered
at risk willdisappear within the next century. At risk species account
for 49 percentof the 262 remaining mussel species, 33 percent of the
336 crayfishspecies, 26 percent of the 243 amphibian species, and
21 percent of the1,021 fish species.

Non-native species pose a serious threat to indigenous
freshwater animals.European zebra mussels are outcompeting native mussels
in North Americanlakes and rivers. Sea lampreys invade lakes and attach
themselves to nativefish, killing them. Even sport fish transplanted from
one lake to anothercan take over an ecosystem, driving less aggressive native
fish towardextinction.

Dams that obstruct river flow are also threats. Of 5.2
million kilometers(3.2 million miles) of stream habitat in the lower 48
states, less than twopercent, or about 100,000 kilometers, is pristine enough
to be federallyprotected, Ricciardi and Rasmussen say. Excess sediment,
toxic contaminantsand organic pollutants from agriculture threaten most
U.S. waterways.

(Agence France Presse) The WorldBank has sent a team of experts toChina to evaluate criticisms of a vastdam and irrigation project it wants tosupport, a Bank official said hereTuesday.

The team is expected to visit the siteof the project, located in westernQinghai province, on the week endand will spend 20 days carrying outstudies and interviews, according toAntonia Macedo, assistant director ofthe World Bank's inspection unit.

The controversy centers on plans to re-settle some 58,000
people,essentially Chinese farmers, to land inhabited by Tibetans.

Critics contend that the resettlement will make Tibetans
in theregion even more of a minority and will also have an
adverseenvironmental impact.

The inspection team will prepare a report for World Bank
officialsby the end of the year. A decision by the Bank's executive
boardon whether to go ahead with the project is not expected
beforeearly 2000, Macedo said.

The overall venture calls for loans of 160 million dollars,
of which40 million would be for the contested resettlement.

The Bank approved the project in June but financing has
been heldup pending an assessment of the criticisms. ((c) 1999
AgenceFrance Presse)

BRUSSELS, Belgium, October 1, 1999 (ENS) - The World Wide
Fund for Nature(WWF) has identified five European Union countries where,
it claims,economic interest groups are successfully pushing their
governments to makeweak nature protection plans under the EU habitats directive.Published in cooperation with ENDS Environment DailyWebsite: http://www.ends.co.uk/envdaily
}For full text and graphics visit:http://ens.lycos.com/ens/oct99/1999L-10-01-09.html

05.10.99 : Announcement: Ten'th "Days
of Volga 1999" 21-23 October 99

Dear friends! "Days of Volga" will be held
from October 21 through October23! We have a Jubilee! We are terribly happy to
inform you , that theCoordination Center of the Movement "Let's help the river"
have star-ted to prepare for the Jubilee 10-th Days of Volga.This has become possible thanks to the financial
support of theInstitute of Sustainable Communities (ROLL project) and
the Departmentfor nature protection and rational nature use of the
Administration ofNizhni Novgorod province.We won the grant competition and were awarded a
grant for theproject "Days of Volga - for the Rivers of Russia"!

What is the "Days of Volga-99"This is a part of our new project, which is called "Days
of Volga- for the Rivers of Russia". Environmental activists
from Amur, Ob',Irtysh, Chusovaya, Angara, Baikal,
Northern Dvina and other riverswill come to the conference, as guests to learn from
our experience.

For the 10 years that passed we managed
to create a network ofgroups which fight to protect the Volga river,
implement many pro-jects, conduct various actions and campaigns - accumulate
a lot of ex-perience of work.

For this 10 years, thanks to annual "Days of Volga"
, where weplan our common actions we have turned
into a rather well organizedmovement, which is able to act and to render mutual support.

Now, having a lot of experience behind us we have stepped
up withthe initiative of establishment of the Rivers Network
of Russia.

Draft program* Results of the activities of the movement "Let's help
the ri-ver" for 10 years: from the program to the movement
(the Coordinationcenter and NGOs of the Volga river basin).* Presentation of specific directions of the movement.
About moredetailed structure of the movement in accordance
with directions ofactivities.* Presentation of the projects of the movement.* Cooperation with the governmental bodies : results
and perspec-tives: Round table "Experience of cooperation of
the authorities ofNizhni Novgorod province with environmental
NGOs", how to replicateand disseminate this experience?* Developing a section about public participation
in the Federalprogram "Revival of Volga".* Continuation of work on the issue
"Persistent Organic Pollu-tants": public actions, planning for a joint Russian
- American confe-rence on the problems of POPs.

Day of Rivers of Russia* Development of the Russian anti-dam campaign.* Actions for the protection of small rivers.* NGO from the other rivers of Russia introduce themselves.
Crea-tion of the Network of Rivers of Russia and developing
an action plan.

The indefinite fast by Medha Patkar and six other Satyagrahis
in Dhule jailcontinued for the third day today (Monday, 4th Oct.)
as the junior court inTaloda rejected the application for release of over 386
men and women fromNarmada valley on personal bond. They have been remanded
for further 14days judicial custody. Already, the people have undergone
12 days in jail,without being tried.

The learned judge of Taloda court did not give any reason
for rejecting theapplication of release of the detainees under Section
144 of the IndianPenal Code (which prohibits the gathering of groups of
more than fivepeople). The Satyagrahis fasting inside the jail, others
who are jailedillegally and the ones who are on indefinite Dharna in
front of the jailhave decided to further intensify the agitation. Declaration
of the actionswill be done later. The Andolan would also be approaching
the higher courtsfor appeal on this order.

The same judge had rejected the appeal for release on
personal bond of the386 detainees on October 1. The Andolan has challenged
the earlier order asunwarranted. It is a normal procedures to get Personal
Bond when arrestedunder Sec.144. Mr. N.D. Suryavanshi, Advocate of Andolan,
today made astrong plea for the unconditional release of all the
detainees as they havelready undergone detention without trial for over 10
days. It is learnedthat the court has given another 14 days of detention.
The police andadministration has been acting illegally, after the Chief
Minister Mr. Ranehad made uncharitable comments on NBA and Medha Patkar.
Mr. Suryavanshiwondered why the normal procedure of releasing the people
detained unders.144 on personal bond is not followed in the case of
the satyagrahis ofNBA.Curiously, the police did not produce the detainees before
the court citingflimsy and false reasons. The detainees, including Medha
Patkar insisted ontaking them to Taloda for the hearing.

Munde Has No Answers

Meanwhile, a delegation of NBA met the Deputy Chief Minister
ofMaharashtra, Mr. Gopinath Munde today at Dhule. Mr. Munde,
who had earliercame to Manibeli and extended support for the cause of
the Andolan, had noanswers to the questions raised by the delegation. The
delegation made itclear that the Maharashtra Government is responsible
for the submergencewhich has occurred in the Narmada valley, destroying
thousands of hectaresof agricultural lands and houses. The delegation also
challenged him tocome forward for a dialogue with facts and details on
availability of landfor rehabilitation, rather than uttering irresponsible
statements fromfar-off places, particularly by the Chief Minister, Mr.
Rane.

All the satyagrahis in jail - including Medha Patkar,
Sitarambhai Patidar(Kadmal), Doorsingh Vasave (Domkhedi), Naharsingh Pavara
(Savariya),Mahadeo Patidar (Chhota Barda) and Dadliya Munda Vasava
(Domkhedi) and Ms.Komal Patidar who are on indefinite fast against the
illegal detention andthe indifference and frigidity of the State - are weak
physically but highin spirits. They are determined to take this peaceful
agitation ahead, andnot to yield to the wicked tactics of the State. A further
five people whoare jailed and 11 of the Satyagrahis outside, observed
24 hours of relayast. Prominent among them are Tembarya Vasave (Gaman
village), BhimabhaiTadvi (Waghadia village, Gujarat), Narsing Vasave (Amli
rehabilitationsite) and Nikki (England). Ms. Mercy Mathew continued
her fast for thesecond day.

As the Dharna entered the 10th day, more and more people
are coming downfrom different parts of Maharashtra and the country to
strengthen the handsof the people against the unjust callousness of the State.
Students fromDelhi, representatives of students unions from Kerala
and othersorganisations have come today. Oustees' representatives
from Gujarat toohave joined the dharna on Monday. Senior activists like
Bhaijibhai Tadvi,Kalpanabehn Tadvi and Bhimabhai Tadvi are among those
who came in supportfor the struggling people. Senior economist, Mr. H.M.
Desarda today visitedthe dharna and expressed support.www.narmada.orgNARMADA BACHAO ANDOLANb-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda-390007
(Ph. 0265-382232)Camp: 16, Ashoknagar, Dhule- 424001 (Ph. 02562-34519,
37367)www.narmada.orgJoe Athialy, Alok Agrawal, Sanjay Sangvai

01.10.99 : Urgent request for support - Vistula
River, Poland

Dear Friends

URGENT REQUEST FOR HELP - PLEASE SEND YOUR VERSION OR
COPY OF THE SUGGESTED LETTER BELOW BY POST,FAX AND/OR E-MAIL TO MEMBERS OF THE POLISH PARLIAMENT
AS LISTED.

Below is a brief background to our request for help and
the suggested letter.

Brief Background

We write from Stowarzyszenie Ekologiczno-Kulturalne "Klub
Gaja" (Ecological and Cultural Association "Klub Gaja"). SEK "Klub Gaja" is an independent, non-governmental organisation
which has led the national campaign"Teraz Wisla" ("Vistula Now") for several years.
This campaign works to stop the building of a cascade of seven damson the lower Vistula river and to work towards the development
of alternative methods of working with the river and its valley to enable social and ecological needs to be met.

The Vistula River, known in Poland as the "Queen of Polish
Rivers" is one of Europe's largest rivers and one which remains closeto its natural state with very close to natural river
dynamics, unique and rare habitats, flora and fauna. In terms of
naming, the Vistula is divided into 3 sections, the upper, middle
and lower Vistula, due to its different characteristics in these three
sections. Ecologically it is one of Europe's most important corridoors
linking the Dniestre Basin and the Danube to Scandinavia and Siberia. The Vistula rises in south west Poland and runs
northwards through the centre of the country finally forming a delta which
runs into the Baltic Sea. In addition to its ecological
value, there is tremendous cultural heritage along the Vistula. The
Vistula providesa unique opportunity for Poland to develop in a pro-ecological,
sustainable way. The building of the cascade serieswould take away this opportunity for new ways of development.
Between the middle and lower Vistula is one existing large dam located at Wloclawek which has had many negative
effects.

The Current Situation

The Wloclawek dam has erosion of the riverbed by 3 metres
on its downstream side. Behind the dam is a collectionof 29 years pollution of untreated city, town and village
waste and heavy industrial pollution. This sediment is highlytoxic and has formed a strange substance which in some
places is 3 - 5 metres deep. The argument is that the second damis necessary to reduce erosion and stop the first dam
collapsing. Some scientists do not agree with this argument and haveother ideas such as the building of a by-pass.

Forced by civil actions and scientific opinion a study
was commissioned by the Ministry of Environment to examine 3 options: 1) to keep the existing dam at Wloclawek only; 2) to build
one more dam at Ciechocinek; 3) to build the full cascade.

At the beginning of 1999 a consortium was established
to build the next dam in the cascade series at Ciechocinek. This consortium includes the largest Polish company Elektrim
and ABB.

The decision whether to build the next dam at Ciechocinek
is a parliamentary one. Our sources of information lead us to believe that the majority of politicians are ready
to vote in favour of the building of the next dam at Ciechocinek.

We expect the Polish parliament to be making the decision
very shortly. We therefore ask for your support by posting, faxing and E-mailing your version or copy of the following
letter urgently to:

It has come to our attention that the Polish parliament
is to make a decision about the future of the lower Vistulariver and its valley.

We here express our deep concern about the proposed plan
to build new stages of fall in the lower Vistula River relating to the "Lower Vistula Cascade" project and further to
express our belief that a decision in favour of building any new dams would be seriously flawed.

The Vistula is one of Europe's largest rivers and one
which remains close to its natural state. The Vistula River is very important for Europe, it has unique and rare habitats,
flora, fauna, very close to natural river dynamics and tremendous biodiversity. In addition, it is
one of Europe's most important ecological corridoors.

Information received from the Ecological and Cultural
Association "Klub Gaja" relays that the Polish parliamenthas to decide from three options relating to the development
of the lower Vistula. In our opinion the variation whichdoes not propose the building of any new dams is good
as this variation provides the best opportunities for nature, culture and people.

Additionally, the building of any new dams would be against
Poland's current commitments to a number ofinternational Conventions including Resolutions under
the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Berne Convention.

We urge the Polish parliament to take the best of the
three options, the option which does not propose the buildingof any new dams. We look forward to receiving your
reply.

Four hundred and eighty four people sitting on an indefinite
dharnain Dhadgaon (Maharashtra) were arrested today morning
as theauthorities clamped Sec. 144. in this tehsil HQ. The
police behavedin a very bad manner, beating and badly dragging the
people includingwomen. Medha Patkar, who is also among those arrested,
was also draggedby the police. Activists Ravi, Ashish were among those
badly beaten.

The arrested people were presented before the Magistrate
after thearrest. The people unanimously refused to take personal
bond for therelease but demanded that the police release them unconditionally
asthey had committed no crime. The people have been charged
under Sec.144, 188 of the IPC and 37/1/35 of Bombay Police Act.
It is not knownwhat orders the magistrate has made after the people
refused personalbond, but the police are taking them to some unknown
place, possiblyDhule or Aurangabad.

Just outside Dhadgoan, the police stopped for food but
as there was notenough food for everyone, the arrested people moved on
to the roads andblocked the road in protest. The people were still sitting
on the roadblock as this note was being written.

It may be recollected that Medha Patkar and 300 people
were arrested and brought to Dhadgaon, by the police late Tuesday
night after an intensefight by people of the Narmada valley, as the waters
reached neck-deeplevel of the Samarpit Dal at the Domkhedi Satyagraha
House and as watersentered villages destroying fields and homes, for the
third time thisseason. After these, hundreds of tribals started moving
towardsDhadgaoan, and even as Medha Patkar and others were released,
hadstarted an indefinite dharna in Dhadgaon since yesterday
evening.

The dharna was started with a demand that the Government
initiate adialogue with the people and answer their questions and
to protestagainst the suppression of the real issues through the
police actionsagainst the satyagrahis who have been challenging the
increase in backwater due to the Sardar Sarovar Dam.

In a statement Medha Patkar had said "When people have
been raising thebasic issues and have been challenging injustice, the
response of theState Government was to trivialize it with the police
actions. This isnot at all a law and order problem but the situation
has arisen due tothe wrong policies and actions regarding the dam and
displacement on thepart of Maharashtra rulers. It is the question of tribals'
rights."

The people arrested are demanding that the Government
stop cat andmouse game with them of arresting and releasing and rearresting.
Peopleare serious on their demand and their resolve. The State
Governmentcannot shrink from its responsibility by hiding behind
the police. Theydemanded that the Chief Secretary or some such functionary
of the StateGovernment must come to Dhadgaon where the people were
detained andanswer their questions.

OTHER ACTIONS

Meanwhile, the water levels in the Jalsindhi Satyagraha
centre in M.P.receded today even as the tribals had braved and stood
in 1.5 feet deepwater for 24 hours.

About 50 people from Kerala, Bangalore and other places
have reached thesatyagraha centres today to express solidarity and support
to thestruggle.

From Thailand, the people affected by the Pak Mun dam,
who have occupiedthe dam site since April this year, setting up de facto
township withover 8000 people demanding that the dam be removed, have
conveyed theirsolidarity to the Narmada struggle and have said that
everyday at 7.00pm, the people sitting at the Pak Mun dam are offering
prayers insupport of the Narmada struggle.